India's 2025 Women's World Cup win came with untold stories of sacrifice and strength — none more emotional than Amanjot Kaur's.
The Punjab all-rounder played through the biggest match of her life unaware that her 75-year-old grandmother, Bhagwanti, had passed away days earlier.
Her family, fearing the news might break her focus ahead of the final against South Africa, decided to keep it from her until after India's historic win.
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Amanjot Kaur's family shielded her from heartbreak during World Cup 2025
According to The Indian Express, Amanjot's father Bhupinder Singh, a carpenter from Mohali, chose not to tell his daughter about Bhagwanti's death. The family believed Amanjot needed to stay mentally clear before India's title clash.
"My mother has been Amanjot's pillar of strength since she started playing cricket. After her heart attack, we didn't tell Amanjot about it. The World Cup win has brought us comfort in these tense days," Singh told The Indian Express.
Bhagwanti had been instrumental in Amanjot's early cricketing journey — often sitting in the park to watch her granddaughter play with local boys and protecting her from criticism.
From Mohali parks to global glory: Amanjot's rise in Indian cricket
Amanjot's story began in the lanes of Mohali, where she played cricket after brief stints in skating and hockey. Her father eventually enrolled her at a Chandigarh academy under coach Nagesh Gupta, who recognized her all-round potential.
Since debuting for India in 2023, Amanjot has faced injuries but bounced back strongly. In this World Cup, she scored a crucial half-century in the opener against Sri Lanka and dismissed Australia's centurion Phoebe Litchfield in the semi-final.
As her family now tends to Bhagwanti's final rites, Singh says the win has eased their grief — a moment of national joy intertwined with personal loss.
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